"I'm home!" Oosugi Suzuno called. She waited for a response from either of her parents, but there was none. She then saw her mother standing quietly in front of the room her father used as a study. "Okasan," Suzuno asked. "Is something wrong?"
Her mother cleared her throat. "Well…Not long after you left for school this morning, your father received terrible news. His dear friend Einosuke-san and his daughter Takiko-chan…apparently, Einosuke-san killed Takiko-chan and then himself."
Suzuno gasped. "Wh-what!? That can't be!"
"Yes, I know, but…the man who gave us the news also gave your father a package from Einosuke-san. He's stayed in that study ever since. I didn't know him nearly as well as your father…he must be terribly distraught. So…don't bother him."
"I--I understand. I'll study now." Suzuno went off to do her usual routine, as her father stayed in his study.
******
Five days had passed, and Suzuno still hadn't been able to talk to her father. He had made it clear that he needed to be alone.
Tosan…when will you be okay…? Suzuno wondered that morning while watching the sunrise.
"Suzu-chan."
Suzuno was startled to hear her father's voice from behind her.
"Otosan," Suzuno said as she turned around. "Are you all right?"
"Suzu-chan," her father said. "I want to show you something. Come with me."
Suzuno followed her father to the doorway of his study.
"Wait here. DO NOT come any closer." Her father walked to his desk and picked up a red, old looking book.
"Shijin Tenchi Sho"… Suzuno thought. "Shijin"….the four animal gods of ancient China? So what, he has lots of old Chinese things.
"Suzu-chan, do you see this book?" her father asked.
"Yes, Otosan."
"You are never to touch it. NEVER! You shouldn't even go near it. I'm only showing it to you briefly so you'll understand that. I can't explain, but…"
As her father trailed off, trying to find the right words, Suzuno noticed a glowing white light coming from in between the red covers of the book.
"Suzu, do you understand? Never!" Her father broke through her thoughts.
"Yes, Otosan, I'll stay away." Suzuno answered.
The light disappeared… she thought.
Her father smiled. "You're such a smart girl. Now go, get ready for school. Ganbatte!"
Suzuno nodded and left, still thinking of the mysterious white light…
******
That afternoon, Suzuno came home as usual. As her mother welcomed her, Suzuno asked about her father.
"Oh, he had to leave briefly, to help settle Einosuke-san's estate. He'll be back any minute. But I'm still worried. For the first time this week, he acted as usual, and yet I still sense his troubles when I look into his eyes."
"Well, it is such a tragedy. If I had been as close to Takiko-san as Otosan is-was-to Einosuke-san, I'd be devastated, too. But I barely even met her. I wish I had gotten to know her…" Suzuno trailed off as she walked to her room. As she was passing her father's study, she suddenly stopped, remembering the white light coming from the book this morning.
Baka, Suzuno thought. It was probably just my blurry eyes.
Yet she stepped towards the door. As she slowly opened it, her mind screamed, What are you doing!?
But she kept going. And there she saw it, the ancient red book, sitting on her fathers' desk.
There's this feeling in my heart, thought Suzuno, That, despite my father's warning, despite my sensibilities, says I have to see that white light again.
Her hand reached toward the book just as her father opened the door of the study.
"Suzu! What are you doing!?" her father cried, dropping his jacket on the ground.
In almost a trance-like state, Suzuno answered, "I'm going…to see my…"
As her hand touched the cover, a white light began to glow.
"The same as before…" Suzuno murmured.
Her father ran to her. "Suzuno! Stop! Please!"
Suzuno turned to the first page and began to read. "This contains the tale of a girl and her quest to gather the Seven Seishi of Byakko together. And if you, the esteemed reader, read to the story's end, the spell contained within this book shall give you the power of the heroine, and grant you your wish."
As her father tried to pull the book from her, Suzuno read the last line.
"For the moment the page is turned, the story will become reality."
Suzuno started to turn the page…
BAM!
Her father had finally yanked the book away and threw it on the floor. "Suzuno! What…"
But it was too late. The white light became even more intense.
"Suzuno! Suzuno!" he called.
Finally, the white light was all Suzuno could see. Her father watched helplessly as the light enveloped his daughter, until even her long, dark braids were gone.
******
Stunned, her father picked up the book and read aloud.
"…kakushite, densetsu no shoujo wa isekai no tobira o akehantta. Iza monogatari wa hajimaran."
"…and so the girl of the legend opened the door to another world, and here begins the tale."
To be continued…
